KOTA KINABALU: Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) President Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin welcomed the change in stand by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir that it is up to the PPBM (Bersatu) leadership to decide whether it wants to expand to Sabah.

He said it is now clear that the decision lies in the hands of Bersatu’s leadership and not others, including Parti Warisan.

“Nobody can stop Bersatu if they wish to spread their influence to Sabah unless the party leader himself decides against it.

“As a Pakatan Harapan ally, Warisan should support Bersatu’s entry to Sabah because it will further strengthen the party’s position in leading the State Government, instead of rejecting the idea.

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“It should be reminded that cooperation with Pakatan Harapan prior to the last general election gave Warisan a great advantage which led to the fall of Umno/BN, and them (Warisan) taking over the administration of the State,” he said.

Lajim said there is no reason why Bersatu should be prevented from extending its influence to Sabah as the majority of Sabahans want a party they believe is able to create political stability.

Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had repeatedly hoped that Bersatu would keep its promise to not spread its wings to Sabah on the basis of a loose agreement reached in the last general election.

Lajim is also confident that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will not repeat Umno and Barisan Nasional’s way of administration should they (Bersatu) decide to spread its wings to Sabah.

Instead, the party would assist and further strengthen the current State Government’s administration.

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He said that confidence is based on the promise by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the last general election for Sabah to have autonomous power.

He said promises in the Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto includes recognition of the people and the State’s interest as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Bersatu will never do what the Umno/BN administration did because the method has caused the party which dominated for over 60 years to fall in the last general election.

“Pakatan Harapan also pledged to acknowledge the State’s interest … it is clear in Dr Mahathir’s open statement that Pakatan Harapan will return autonomous powers to Sabah and Sarawak as set out in the MA63 and the Sabah State Constitution.

“Thus, the people of Sabah need not worry even if Umno is succeeded by Bersatu because its administration is not the same as Umno/BN,” he said in a statement, Wednesday.

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Lajim was commenting on allegations by some who claim that the entry of Bersatu to Sabah would only restore Umno/BN administration in the State. - Iskandar Dzulkifli